• China to Build Indonesia's High-Speed Railway Jakarta-Bandung Project

    Last week it was officially announced that China Railway International Co. Ltd, subsidiary of China Railway Group Ltd, together with a consortium consisting of Indonesian state-owned enterprises (which include Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia, Wijaya Karya, Kereta Api, and Jasa Marga) will build Indonesia's first ever high-speed railway, valued at over USD $5 billion, between the capital city of Jakarta and Bandung (in West Java), a route that stretches for approximately 150 km.

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  • Trade Balance Indonesia Update: $1 Billion Surplus in September 2015

    Indonesia posted a USD $1.02 billion trade surplus in September 2015, higher than analysts' estimates and up from a revised USD $328 million trade surplus recorded in the preceding month. It was the tenth consecutive monthly trade surplus for Indonesia. However, the country's September trade surplus is primarily the result of rapidly declining imports, reflecting weak investment growth and weak consumption in Southeast Asia's largest economy.

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  • Freeport Indonesia's Grasberg Contract Extension, Share Divestment & Investment

    Freeport Indonesia, the local unit of US-based energy and mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Inc, will be allowed by the Indonesian government to operate the Grasberg mine in Papua (the world’s largest gold mine and third-largest copper mine) beyond 2021 (when the existing contract expires). Sudirman Said, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, told reporters that the central government has provided assurances to Freeport. However, it will require a regulatory amendment first before Freeport Indonesia can submit a proposal for extension.

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  • What are the Stimulus Measures in Indonesia's Third Economic Policy Package?

    The government of Indonesia unveiled the last installment of a series of three stimulus packages on Wednesday (07/10). The first two installments had been unveiled last month. In general, these stimulus packages aim to boost economic growth of Indonesia (which has slowed to a six-year low) and restore investors' confidence in the Indonesian rupiah and stocks. When markets believed that the Federal Reserve would soon raise its key interest rate, Indonesia was plagued by severe capital outflows pushing the rupiah to a 17-year low.

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